Thursday, July 19, 2012

Newsletter 07-20-12

Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food

Get to Know Gaytan Family Farm

We're sure you've stumbled upon this smiling face at the Farmers' Market on Sundays, but just in case you haven't, please meet Jeronimo from Gaytan Family Farm! Jeronimo brings us delicious amazing fresh produce every week from Gaytan Family Farm located in Mira Loma, California.

Recently we chatted with Maricela Gaytan, the eldest Gaytan Family sibling and operator of Gaytan Family Farm. Maricela was nice enough to also translate for her mother, Edelmira Gaytan, to tell us a about the history of their farm and more about their fresh and tasty fruits and veggies.

Gaytan Family Farm was started in 2001 by Maricela's parents, Albertano and Edelmira Gaytan. Albertano worked as a farmworker for 14 years prior to establishing his own family farm. Edelmira said they were inspired to run a farm because both she and her husband grew up farming to feed their families and surrounding community. She also said, "Farming is something the whole family can be a part of. It helps everyone."

Gaytan Family Farm's home base is in Mira Loma where they grow most of their herbs including: papalo, espazote, basil, cilantro, and parsley. They also grow crops of fresh fruits and veggies in Chino (green beans, squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, beets, cantaloupe, and watermelon), in Santa Maria (broccoli, celery, brussel sprouts, lettuce, carrots, and artichokes), and in Aguana (garlic, potatoes, watermelon, cantaloupe).

We asked Maricela and Edelmira what makes their farm so special and why you should shop with them. "Our family offers the best quality and great service." Now, if you've had their strawberries and artichokes, you definitely know the quality is superb and if you've chatted with our friend Jeronimo, you know he offers you excellent service!

Come August you can look forward to blueberries and raspberries from Gaytan's fields in Santa Maria. But remember, the best and freshest produce is seasonal (everything you'll find at our Newport Beach Certified Farmers' Market!) so check back with us every Sunday to find out what's new and what's on it's way!

Chef 2 Farmer 2 You!

This month we're kicking off a brand new initiative to connect you further with our farmers and get some bright and yummy ideas on what to do with all that beautiful fresh produce! We've ushered local chefs into our farm to fork fold and they will work with our certified farmers to showcase our seasonal produce and give you professional culinary tips on how to recreate the magic in your own kitchen back at home.

Chef Pete has an extraordinary culinary background that includes growing up in the family restaurant business in Los Angeles, education and training from the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, executive chef of several Southern California restaurants, several years in Hawaii to perfect regional cuisine, and now serving his own exquisite creative cooking through his catering company.

Chef Pete will work with Atkins Nursery and Fruita del Sol Organic Farm this Sunday. The magic starts around 10:30am so come ready to learn, have fun, and see what's cookin' at the Newport Beach Farmers' Market!

If you know a local chef or maybe you're the culinary extraordinaire that focuses on healthy meals and locally sourced produce, please get in touch if you'd like to work with our farmers for our community.

New Locally Made Fresh Organic Jams

They've got peach, they've got plum, they've got strawberry--oh boy, bread was never so happy to get stuck with a jam like this! Mr Argento's Empanadas are now selling delicious homemade organic jams. Stop by this Sunday and ask Debbie for a fresh sample!

What's On Your Mind?

As a community-minded and small non-profit run Farmers' Market, we always welcome feedback from the local community. If you have a great idea you'd like to share with us, questions about our produce and products, or maybe you want to volunteer your time to help us continue to grow the market, let's talk! Please see us at the Information Booth (that big red one in the middle with recipes and our weekly fresh produce basket raffle!) every Sunday or send us an email.

We'll see you this Sunday at the market for fresh local food, live music, and in case you'd like a strawberry on your cheek--we've got face painting!